Am I a T-Rex? (Cannot find good plucking position with Ibanez EHB1005SMS)

Technique
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Hey @fennario ! Thanks for thinking about me. I already have a 24" scale Blackstar for my sofa noodling, so in that respect I’m happy. Also I changed about everything I could, so this bass is done.

EDIT: of course, it’s not done. I might install some headpieces behind the bridge. They are originally for headless basses, but I might use those to free my blackstar from using only the one string type they provide. Just use normal strings, attach them at the headpiece, and cut to correct length.

Back to topic:

If no other idea comes up (it always does here ^^), I’ll stick with the Harley Benton MV-4MSB.
The good thing about all this back & forth, all discussions here and the basses I could test at home and in stores is: now I know exactly what I’m looking for.
And the Harley Benton MV-4MSB (with my planned modifications) checks all the boxes.

Example:

I found the Sire U5 perfect, except:

  • old fashioned tuners. Just don’t like them
  • J pickup. Sounds meh
  • Most importantly: it had a very good body, but it could have been “flatter” and better rounded on the rear top, so it would be more comfortable

*Body Comparison

Sire U 5

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(In fact the body is straight/falt/thick, not like it looks on this picture - but I have the 2nd version, maybe there is a dieffercne to that one on the picture.

Harley Benton MV-4MSB

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Look at the left side. That looks comfortable to me.

Also I made so much fun of the colour that I really like the very hetersexual “burgundy” now.

Strangely enough I absolutely liked the stock strings on the U5. I really would like those on my new bass, but could not find out, which strings Sire uses…

122

The different color balls on the strings look like D’Addario

1 Like
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Yeah, I think I read that somewhere - just can’t find the post. The internet is huge, my friend!
Would like to know, which one exactly. Maybe it was the EXL???!

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a little google work unveils EXL170 - 45-100
short scale of course

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Ah, yes, Google! I still use Yahoo :slight_smile:

Where exactly did you find it?

EDIT Those, right?

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I googled Sire U5, then found the entry for Sweetwater

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MMU5A4TS--sire-marcus-miller-u5-alder-4-string-bass-guitar-tobacco-sunburst

At the bottom of their excellent specs it says

Strings: D’Addario, .045-.100

Then a search on D’Addario Short Scale Strings, found the 45-100, and EXL170. Took like 30 seconds all told

Sweetwater is a great reference for specs

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127

Yes, looks like them

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Cool, saw the Sweetwater links but ignored them. Don’t know why! Will include Sweetwater in my searches now…

At Thomann you can only get the nickel strings, not the chromes. Do you know the difference?
How do you see the difference? I can go have a look at the U5 in a store (sent mine back) and try to find out what it is…

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I believe chromes are the brand name D’Addario puts on its flats, and nickels are roundwounds

1 Like
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Ah, cool!

I experimented shortly with flats and really enjoyed the tone and the feel - before I destroyed them in an experiment with my Blackstar.

On my short scale I want to use good old round wounds though, as I want to preserve as much of the harmonics as possible…

So nickel it is (and they are cheap too!!!).